Working life: Eithne Barden, medical scientist

8am: I work in a very busy team-based laboratory environment in the Mercy Hospital where each day brings a different challenge. 

Last night a problem with our main analyser meant the instrument could not be used so our back-up instrument had to be calibrated and controlled and fully functioning for the remainder of the night and today until I got that fixed.

An Aer Lingus flight from Germany was cancelled which meant compounds needed to perform certain tests were delayed. Thankfully, another city laboratory came to our aid.

Our laboratory works 24/7, 365 days a year and the pressure can be intense. It’s essential work doesn’t stop as doctors and patients are awaiting test results.

9.30am

I attend a quality meeting. We are an accredited laboratory so have very high standards to maintain. We are constantly trying to improve and develop laboratory performance. This is a central part of my role.

11am

I grab a coffee before the next meeting, a company rep marketing a new test that some MUH consultants are interested in.

Biochemistry is constantly evolving and it is important to keep up-to-date. We process about 400 blood samples daily and there are a multiplicity of tests associated with each one.

12am

I check emails and deal with anything urgent.

We have an external quality assessment programme which I oversee. It’s time consuming but an essential part of laboratory life.

2pm

Today, I chaired our monthly staff meeting and staff educational tutorial. A staff member gives a brief talk about a current scientific topic for our ongoing continual professional development.

I have a very motivated, highly educated staff. We also take students from CIT/UCC on clinical placement. I discussed the validation of a new piece of equipment with our current student as her lab-based project.

4pm

I fill in the attendance sheet and check the work rotas for the following day. Just one staff member is rostered between 5pm and 8am so I try to spend the last hour in the lab to make sure there is no backlog.

6pm

I collect my son in Midleton where he’s doing after-school study. I enjoy cooking, socialising, and hill walking in my free time.

* Eithne Barden is acting chief medical scientist (biochemistry) at the Mercy University Hospital, Cork